2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Illinois
[Mental Health Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/mental-health-counseling-counselor/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mental health counseling/counselor education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools.
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2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mental health counseling/counselor, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools
Our analysis ranked Elgin Community College the best value for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor in Illinois. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $12,492. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Parkland College one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,284, while out-of-state students pay about $13,266. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Parkland College generally make around $40,409. Set against $10,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Governors State University earned it the #4 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,004. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $24,990. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $51,711. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Northeastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #5 spot this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $50,825 early in their careers. Set against $17,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Lewis University placed #6 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $38,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Roosevelt University came in at #8 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $23,879. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $47,220. That is a strong return on a $23,879 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Moody Bible Institute landed the #9 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,786 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $13,318. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $40,708. That is a strong return on a $13,318 median debt. Moody Bible Institute admits about 83% of applicants.
Bradley University landed the #10 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $50,358 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
